: : : : I don't know if it will "bring them back" if they are very dried out, but walnut oil is suggested for keeping gut strings healthy. You should use a sharp implement to nip off the hairs, perhaps a high quality nail clipper would be a good choice.

: : : : Thanks, Bob. They're not too dry, it's more the hairiness. Nipping seems like quite a project. Do people ever just lightly run a razor blade over them? I might try the walnut oil too. Would that come from a furniture shop or something?

: : Thanks again.

: Sure, any sharp implement will do if you're careful, a razor knife, etc.

Point was that you really don't want to stress the string by pulling on the hair when you cut, want to try and make it as flush as possible. Not sure where you'd get walnut oil, but other vegetable/nut oils would probably be ok, too, as long as it's not sticky. I've heard of at least one guy who actually breaks a fresh walnut and rubs the nutmeats against the string .

I've had good luck with almond oil which I found at a chinese grocery store